Apple Announces Press Conference in Response to iPhone 4 Complaints

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Will Apple propose a legitimate fix? Could a massive recall be in store?

By Scott Lowe

Earlier this week Apple was hit with a crushing blow when Consumer Reports, a prominent product testing and evaluation publication, announced their findings regarding the iPhone 4, which concluded that the device's highly publicized antenna problem made it unworthy of "recommended model" status. The report comes as yet another round of negative press for the company regarding the iPhone 4, and today Apple has announced that they will be holding a press conference this Friday, July 16, to formally address the issue.

The event will take place at 10 a.m. PST, 1 p.m. EST, at Apple's Cupertino, California headquarters, though whether or not the company's CEO, Steve Jobs, will be delivering the address remains uncertain.

Critical reception for the iPhone 4 has been largely positive, though soon after release many consumers reported problems with poor reception. Apple's initial response iterated that reduction of signal strength as a result of how a device is held is common, and they urged users experiencing these issues to avoid doing so or to use a protective case that prevents direct contact with the specific area that causes the reception interruption. Shortly thereafter, Apple issued a follow-up statement, which detailed the company's internal investigation of the malfunction, and their results.

After extensive testing, Apple said that they had identified the source of problem, which was the result of an error in the device's software that presented signal strength greater than it actually was, subsequently resulting in more drastic drops in service.

IGN's own review noted the issue, calling it a poor oversight on Apple's behalf, but ultimately finding after extensive testing that it was only noticeable in areas of poor service and could be alleviated through the use of a case, which is recommended for any high-end device.

Regardless, Apple's formal address Friday morning is expected to contain a more extensive solution. IGN will be following the event closely, so stay tuned for updates.